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Subject: Heat/Food Change

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NixiesMark User is Offline

Texas

MH
Posts:120

01/30/2013 1:50 PM
Nixie's in heat as of yesterday and seems to be dealing with it pretty well. I'm so thankful for the forum because there's plenty of help in past posts on this! I'm dealing with it pretty well as a result too! She's 9.5 months now and it was the time I was planning on switching her over to adult food. I wasn't sure if it's a good time to do that though. Should I wait until she's through or go ahead and start the weaning off process? Any thoughts on this? I'm making a list of things I want to ask the vet so I'll get his advice on this as well. (He wasn't too happy with me about waiting...) Appreciate it!

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7862

01/30/2013 6:32 PM
I would wait mainly because this is her first time in season and she has allot of stuff going on with her body right now. Physically it shouldn't matter. Also, do not be surprised if she gains a little weight as her body is preparing for a pregnancy and one thing the females sometimes do is add weight in anticipation of having to carry a litter of puppies. Not to worry though as she will drop the weight when her body realizes there are no puppies.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

smatulewicz User is Offline

Michigan

MH
Posts:1197

01/30/2013 10:11 PM
Welcome to ladyhood Miss Nixie save yourself headaches and get some clothe washable diapers and panty liners. I'm sure they all handle things differently, but Bella's eating habits changed dramatically when she was in heat. She often left her breakfast untouched until much later in the day. We decreased her servings a little, but she just wasn't focused on food with everything else going on in her body...so don't be alarmed if she is eating less, but gaining weight as Texasbelle mentioned. Bella also actually lost some weight due to losing a little muscle since she was on house arrest for several weeks. She built it back up fast though once her cycle was over.

NixiesMark User is Offline

Texas

MH
Posts:120

02/01/2013 3:45 PM
Thank you both! I decided to wait after getting different inputs. She is waiting until later to eat too. Sounds fitting that I'd switch her from puppy to adult food after her first season! How perfectly timed. It's been very light, way less than I was expecting so I'm grateful for that. We did get the washable diapers and we first used them on Wednesday for her obedience class so she let everybody know what's going on! Haha! I was glad we were able to still go and we only have one left. The trainer said she could come since it's mainly females and one neutered fella that she is going to put on the other side of the room. We'll see how that goes!! Thanks again!

smatulewicz User is Offline

Michigan

MH
Posts:1197

02/01/2013 11:11 PM
Poor fella, how is he ever gonna concentrate in class with Nixie in her flashy panties

NixiesMark User is Offline

Texas

MH
Posts:120

02/10/2013 9:04 PM
Haha! He actually wasn't there so we didn't have any problems! I had a quick question. This is her 13th day and this morning she had more of the clear fluid but then it got bloody again. It seems to be switching in and out. What I've been reading normally says that when she's fertile is when it's clear. Does it normally transition like this, going back and forth between blood and the clear liquid? Maybe I'm being a little paranoid but I guess I'm just confused!

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7862

02/10/2013 10:20 PM
Relax mom, that is pretty normal. Also, you cannot go on the visual alone which is why I do progesterone testing when I am breeding one of my girls. With the testing you know the exact time and you up the odds on a breeding taking. When I bred Halo 2 years ago she fooled even the vet. She wasn't ready to breed until day 17. If we had based it on the color of the discharge we would have missed the right time. So, you want to be careful even at day 21. I usually keep my girls under guard until a full week has passed after the discharge has stopped. Also, my boy Ringo is pretty good indicator too. He lets me know a good week or so before they come in and also when he no longer thinks they are drop dead gorgeous. He is neutered too, but that has changed opinion of girls one bit. I still have to keep him separated because it makes him go nuts. So if you have heard neutered males don't care, wrong. The only thing different for them is they shoot blanks.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3136

02/11/2013 11:16 AM
Striker liked girl dogs even if they weren't in heat LOL! He was just fascinated with them... I do know that even horses that have been gelded still like the mares when in heat, so I imagine it's the same with dogs...

NixiesMark User is Offline

Texas

MH
Posts:120

02/11/2013 10:02 PM
Thanks TexasBelle! We'll just expect a few more weeks to make sure. She's still bleeding so it's just lasting a little bit longer than I'd hoped! She has not been around any fellas so it's hard for me to tell. I can't imagine going through this with a male around!

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